294 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
and elicited some discussion, with diversity of opinion on the two 
points examined, viz:—(1) Does abundance of this plant in pastures 
indicate poorness of soil or the reverse? and (2) is it of benefit to 
have it rooted out where it occurs as a pest? 
297TH JANUARY, 1895. 
Professor Thomas King, President, in the chair. 
Mr. J. Ballantyne, Stuart Villa, Bellevue Road, Rothesay, was 
elected an Ordinary Member. 
Mr. Peter Ewing, F.L.S., submitted a Supplementary List of 
records of Flowering Plants for the West of Scotland. (See 
page 199.) 
Mr. C. Sherry exhibited and read notes on the “ Cruickston 
Dollar,” a coin struck in the reign of Queen Mary, which has on 
its reverse the representation of what is supposed by some to be a 
yew tree, with a tortoise creeping up the stem. Over the tree is 
placed the Scottish Crown, surmounted by a thistle, these two 
objects being figured a second time in the centre of the plate. 
Round the margin is the Latin inscription, “ Zxsurgat Deus et 
dissipentur inimici ejus;” and in the centre of the medallion, 
“ Dat gloria vires,” with the date 1565. 
A different opinion with regard to the tree on the above coin 
is expressed in “ Ramsay’s Views in Renfrewshire ” (Edin., 1839), 
where the author says :—‘ Connected with the old tree there is a 
popular error which some writers of good repute have followed. 
In the reign of Queen Mary there was struck a silver coinage of 
three sizes, bearing on the reverse the figure of a tree crowned 
with the motto ‘Dat gloria vires.’ It is generally believed that 
this tree represents the Crookston Yew, and that it was put upon 
the coin in order to commemorate the meeting of Mary and 
Darnley under its branches: accordingly the coin of the largest 
size goes under the name of ‘The Crookston Dollar.’ Now to 
shew the groundlessness of this story it is only necessary to refer 
to the order of the Privy Council for the formation of the coinage 
in question, dated 22nd December, 1565. By that order it is 
expressly enjoined that the coinage shall bear ‘on the ane side, 
ane palm-tree’ crownit,’ and in conformity to this, the tree upon 
the coin is found to resemble a palm and not a yew,” 
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